What Happens To Your Body When You Ingest Okra

“Humans
live on one-quarter of what they eat; on the other three-quarters lives their
doctor.” — Egyptian pyramid inscription, 3800
B.C

Abelmoschus esculentus, or Hibiscus esculentus, also known as Okra, is a widely used vegetable all over the world. While some people dislike it because of its ‘slimy’ texture, this vegetable is loaded with a number of health benefits that make it worth including in your diet.

Okra originated in Egypt, and people have been growing it since the 12th century. It can be consumed in a variety of different ways, such as stewed, fried, or even fermented, and is usually served with other vegetables and rice or put into soups.

The Many Health Benefits of Okra

According
to a
study published in 2005 in the Jilin Medical Journal, okra
showed positive effects on nephropathy, or kidney disease. For the study,
participants were put into two different groups — one was treated with
okra, and the other was treated with traditional medical therapy. The study
lasted six months, and while there were no changes among the group
who used traditional therapy, those who took their treatment with the okra saw
a reduction in uric acid and urine protein. (source)

A study published in the Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal outlined okra’s ability to protect against liver disease. Because of its strong antioxidant activities, okra was found to protect against chemically induced liver damage. The study also found okra to have strong antioxidant and hepaprotective properties, comparable to milk thistle or silymarin. (source)

A study published
in the Journal of Pharmacy & Bioallied Sciences found that
okra extracts could protect against diabetes. When rats with diabetes were
given okra, they saw a decrease in their blood sugar levels and a normalization
of their lipid profile levels. Multiple in vitro and in vivo studies have found
okra to be a major blood glucose-lowering food. It contains large amounts of
soluble dietary fibre, which is why it has been used traditionally as an
alternative treatment for diabetes.

Okra has
also demonstrated its ability to fight cancer, having shown action against
breast cancer cells, but only in preliminary lab studies. Researchers have discovered that
a newly discovered lectin (a type of protein that can bind to cell
membranes) in okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (AEL), actually induces cell death
in human breast cancer cells, in vitro by 72%.

Research has
also shown okra to effectively fight depression. Although some fruits and
vegetables have been shown to have various effects on mood, including
the ability to elevate mood (flavonoids and quercertin), Okra had not
made the list until recently, thanks to researchers
from Mazandaran University of Medical Science. Their results showed
that okra seed extracts acted as as strong agent for elevating mood, in some
cases performing just as well as common antidepressants. Apparently, the
positive mood effect of okra can be attributed to its high total phenol
and flavonoid content. (source)(source)

When I come across scientifically validated information that sheds light on the knowledge of our ancestors and ancients, I am never surprised. This is commonly seen with quantum physics, astronomy, health, and spirituality, where our modern day measurements of ‘truth’ correlate with teachings of our ancient world.

It’s good to see science shed light on the healing properties found within nature, as it’s a branch of knowledge we have neglected for many years now. Chemical based health, and our reliance on pharmaceutical grade medicine, has completely taken over, which is perhaps one reason why chronic illness and disease continue to rise.

13 Evidence-Based Medicinal Properties Of Coconut Oil

While coconut oil has dragged itself out of the muck of vast misrepresentation over the past few years, it still rarely gets the appreciation it truly deserves. Not just a “good” saturated fat, coconut oil is an exceptional healing agent as well, with loads of useful health applications.

Some Examples of “Good” Saturated Fat Include

1. Fat-burning

Ironic, isn’t it? A saturated fat which can accelerate the loss of midsection fat (the most dangerous kind). Well, there are now two solid, human studies showing just two tablespoons a day (30 ml), in both men and women, is capable of reducing belly fat within 1-3 months.

2. Brain-Boosting

A now famous study, published in 2006 in the journal Neurobiology of Aging, showed that the administration of medium chain triglycerides (most plentifully found in coconut oil) in 20 subjects with Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment, resulted in significant increases in ketone bodies (within only 90 minutes after treatment) associated with measurable cognitive improvement in those with less severe cognitive dysfunction. [i]

3. Clearing Head Lice

When combined with anise spray, coconut oil was found to be superior to the insecticide permethrin (.43%). [ii]

4. Healing Wounds

Coconut has been used for wound healing since time immemorial. Three of the identified mechanisms behind these healing effects are its ability to accelerate re-epithelialization, improve antioxidant enzyme activity, and stimulate higher collagen cross-linking within the tissue being repaired. [iii] Coconut oil has even been shown to work synergistically with traditional treatments, such as silver sulphadizine, to speed burn wound recovery. [iv]

5. NSAID Alternative

Coconut oil has been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory, analgesic and fever-reducing properties. [v]

6. Anti-Ulcer Activity

Interestingly, coconut milk (which includes coconut oil components), has been shown to be as effective as the conventional drug sucralfate as an NSAID-associated anti-ulcer agent. [vi]

7. Anti-Fungal

In 2004, 52 isolates of Candida species were exposed to coconut oil. The most notorious form, Candida albicans, was found to have the highest susceptibility. Researchers remarked: “Coconut oil should be used in the treatment of fungal infections in view of emerging drug-resistant Candida species.” [vii]

8. Testosterone-Booster

Coconut oil was found to reduce oxidative stress in the testes of rats, resulting in significantly higher levels of testosterone. [viii]

9. Reducing Swollen Prostate

Coconut oil has been found to reduce testosterone-induced benign prostate growth in rats. [ix]

10. Improving Blood Lipids

Coconut oil consistently improves the LDL:HDL ratio in the blood of those who consume it. Given this effect, coconut oil can nolonger be dismissed for being ‘that saturated fat which clogs the arteries.’

11. Fat-Soluble Nutrient Absorption

Coconut oil was recently found to be superior to safflower oil in enhancing tomato carotenoid absorption. [x]

12. Bone Health

Coconut oil has been shown to reduce oxidative stress within the bone, which may prevent structural damage in osteoporotic bone. [xi] [Note: Osteoporosis is a Myth, as presently defined by the T-Score]

13. Sunscreen

Coconut oil has been shown to block out UV rays by 30%. Keep in mind that this is good, insofar as UVA rays are damaging to the skin, whereas UVB rays are highly beneficial (when exposure is moderate). [i] Make sure to check this list of other sun-blocking oils.

Of course, when speaking about coconut oil, we are only looking at one part of the amazing coconut palm. Each component, including coconut hull fiber, coconut protein and coconut water has experimentally confirmed therapeutic applications.

Fluoride Literally Turns The Pineal Gland To Stone, Research Suggests

The pineal gland has been known as the ‘seat of soul’ for hundreds of years. Could fluoride, a ubiquitous vector of toxicity in the modern world, actually be calcifying this gland and literally turning it to stone?

“There was a positive correlation between pineal F[luoride] and pineal Ca[lcium] (r = 0.73, p<0.02) but no correlation between pineal F and bone F. By old age, the pineal gland has readily accumulated F and its F/Ca ratio is higher than bone.”

What Is The Pineal Gland?

The pineal gland is a small endocrine gland in the vertebrate brain, and is sometimes called the “third eye” as it is a light sensitive, centrally-located organ with cellular features resembling the human retina.

“The role of the nonvisual photoreception is to synchronise periodic functions of living organisms to the environmental light periods in order to help survival of various species in different biotopes.” [Source]

The pineal gland is best known for its role in producing the hormone melatonin from serotonin (triggered by the absence of light) and affects wake/sleep patterns and seasonal-circadian rhythms. Like a tiny pea-sized pine cone it is located near the center of the brain, between the two hemispheres and is a unique brain structure insofar as it is not protected by the blood-brain-barrier. This may also explain why it is uniquely sensitive to calcification via fluoride exposure.

More Than An Endocrine Gland

Technically the mammalian pineal gland is neural tissue, and the cells within the pineal gland — the pinealocytes — have characteristics that resemble the photoreceptor cells in the retina.

This has given rise to the opinion that it should be reclassified:

“In our opinion, the main trend of today’s literature on pineal functions–only considering the organ as a common endocrine gland–deviates from this structural and histochemical basis.” [Source]

The pineal gland has been a subject of much interest since ancient times. Galen described it in the 3rd century, and the philosopher René Decartes (1596-1650) identified the pineal gland as the “seat of the soul.” His explanation for this conclusion is quite interesting:

“My view is that this gland is the principal seat of the soul, and the place in which all our thoughts are formed. The reason I believe this is that I cannot find any part of the brain, except this, which is not double. Since we see only one thing with two eyes, and hear only one voice with two ears, and in short have never more than one thought at a time, it must necessarily be the case that the impressions which enter by the two eyes or by the two ears, and so on, unite with each other in some part of the body before being considered by the soul. Now it is impossible to find any such place in the whole head except this gland; moreover it is situated in the most suitable possible place for this purpose, in the middle of all the concavities; and it is supported and surrounded by the little branches of the carotid arteries which bring the spirits into the brain.” [Source]

Decartes was one of the few philosophers who was experienced in vivisection and anatomy, and who rightly pointed out the unique nature of the pineal gland’s location in the brain and blood supply.

The “third eye” is also a well-known symbol in Eastern literature, and may be concretely grounded in the anatomical structure and function of the pineal gland.

Calcium Stones In the Brain

Pineal gland calcifications upon dissection resemble gravel, and are composed of calcite (calcium carbonate) and/or calcium hydroxylapatite, the latter of which is not unlike dentin or bone. [Source]

Fluoride as a “Therapeutic” Neurotoxin?

Now that it has been established that fluoride (F) exposure contributes to the calcification of the pineal gland, the question remains: what are the subjective effects of these tissue changes to those who undergo them?

Prozac may represent an archetypal example of how fluoride affects the personality/soul. This drug (chemical name fluoxetine) is approximately 30% fluoride by weight and marketed as an “antidepressant,” even while a major side effect of its use and/or withdrawal is suicidal depression. Modern psychiatry often treats depressive disorders — the “dark night of the soul” — as an organic disorder of the brain, targeting serotonin reuptake by any chemical means necessary. Fluoride and fluoxetine, in fact, may accomplish their intended “therapeutic effects” by poisoning the pineal gland. Animal studies confirm that when mice have their pineal glands removed they no longer respond to fluoxetine. [Source]

Perhaps the primary reason why Prozac causes a favourable reaction in those who are treated (poisoned) with it, is that it disassociates that person from the psychospiritual conflicts that they must normally suppress in order to maintain the appearance of sanity and functionality in society, i.e. it is control and not health that is the goal of such “treatment.”

If Prozac and other sources of fluoride in our environment deposits within the pineal gland, accelerating the transformation of functional pineal tissue into calcification, is it possible that it works by dehumanizing and flattening the effect of those who are under its influence?

How Do We Prevent Pineal Gland Calcification?

Eliminating exposure to fluoride is the #1 priority. We can start by being careful about surreptitious forms of fluoride in Teflon, foods and beverages produced with municipal water, tap water, infant formula, fluoride containing drugs like Prozac, toothpaste, etc. We have collected a number of studies from the US National Library of Medicine on natural substances which mitigate fluoride toxicity. We also have a section on our database dedicated to finding substances which prevent or reverse other forms of pathological calcification which may have relevance for pineal gland calcification, such as ectopic calcification. Lastly, there is research on the potential value of magnesium and phytate in reducing pineal gland calcification.

The 12 Best Foods For Testosterone Support

Believe it or not, there are dietary choices you can make to help support normal testosterone (T) levels. For guys, getting enough testosterone boosting nutrients like zinc, vitamin D and protein (essential amino acids) can help reduce the need for workout supplements or HGH to be a superstar on the field or in the bedroom. And ladies, you also need stable (but lower) testosterone levels for mood, muscle and bone mass. For best testosterone support, make these twelve foods a part of your regular diet.

1. Oysters

Myth or Fact? It only seems appropriate to start with the one food traditionally considered both a T booster and aphrodisiac. While the jury may be out on its aphrodisiac qualities, oysters have proven beneficial for testosterone levels. A 3 ounce serving of oysters contains nearly 500% the recommended daily amount of zinc, an key element in testosterone production. [1] Oysters also contain D-aspartic acid and N-methyl-D-aspartate, not so commonly occurring amino acids. [2] Studies have found fertile men possess high concentrations of D-aspartic acid. [3] When looking for a food to support testosterone, oysters seem like a great place to start!

2. Olive Oil

Sure it’s great for the heart, tasty and a generally accepted component of a healthy diet. It’s also been shown that regular consumption has a positive effect on a man’s testosterone. A recent study found men placed on a diet including daily consumption of olive oil experienced significant increases in testosterone levels. [4]

3. Beans

Loaded with more protein than any other plant-based food, beans also contain high levels of zinc and iron. All of these nutrients contribute to testosterone production. They also support whole body health which maximizes their all-around effectiveness in testosterone production.

5. Garlic

This herb contains two substances, allicin and quercetin, which studies have found inhibit cortisol metabolism. Cortisol is often called the stress hormone and in excess can slow or stop reproductive function. Allicin and quercitin reduce the impact of cortisol, so the body can continue producing testosterone.

6. Salmon

Omega-3 fatty acids and protein both support testosterone levels, but that’s not how it made this list! Salmon has the highest levels of vitamin D than any other fish. And the male reproductive system requires vitamin D for health and proper function. Researchers have observed a significant increase in testosterone levels in men supplementing with vitamin D compared to those who did not. [5] So in addition to the protein and necessary fatty acids, salmon offers a healthy alternative proven to support testosterone levels.

7. Cruciferous Vegetables

This group of veggies includes cauliflower, cabbage, brussel sprouts, kale, cress, bok choy, and broccoli. All of these have been found to include indole-3-carbinol. In studies this compound has been observed reducing estrogen levels in men. [6] This allows testosterone production to function more effectively.

8. Red Grapes

The skins of red grapes contain resveratol, a proven aromatase inhibitor. Aromatase is an enzyme that converts testosterone and other androgens into estrogen. [7] Consuming grapes and other sources of resveratol (red wine) supports testosterone levels.

9. Eggs

Egg yolks contain pure – healthy – cholesterol which is a key building block for testosterone. Recent studies have demonstrated eggs do not pose the health threat perpetrated for so many years. Plus, eggs provide an excellent source of vitamins, minerals and proteins needed for overall health and wellbeing.

10. Pumpkin Seeds

What makes these seeds so good for the prostate also makes them an excellent food for testosterone support. They are packed full of zinc, magnesium, and healthy fats, all necessary for the body to produce and support healthy testosterone levels.

11. Beef

12. Figs

Often considered an aphrodisiac, these fruits deserve their reputation. They are excellent sources of manganese, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc, minerals necessary for cardiovascular and muscular health and hormone production. They also contain flavonoids with potent antioxidant properties…and they taste great!

About the Author

Dr. Edward F. Group III (DC, ND, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM) founded Global Healing Center in 1998 and is currently the Chief Executive Officer. Heading up the research and development team, Dr. Group assumes a hands-on approach in producing new and advanced degenerative disease products and information.

Dr. Group has studied natural healing methods for over 20 years and now teaches individuals and practitioners all around the world. He no longer sees patients but solely concentrates on spreading the word of health and wellness to the global community. Under his leadership, Global Healing Center, Inc. has earned recognition as one of the largest alternative, natural and organic health resources on the internet.

6 Health Benefits Of Liver Cleansing

Your liver is responsible for processing toxins in the body, so you’ll want to keep it working at its best. Sometimes, though, diet or lifestyle can catch up to us, and if that happens, a liver cleanse becomes necessary. With a cleanse, you’ll certainly get rid of all that toxic build-up, but there are lots of other perks as well.

6 Benefits of Liver Cleansing

Many people disregard liver cleansing, but there are many benefits associated with the practice. Not only does it jump start a healthy eating program, it may also help you lose weight. Just what can liver cleansing do for you?

1. Weight Loss

Your liver produces bile, which the digestive systems use to break down fat. And since liver cleansing promotes bile production, detoxing your liver might be just the place to start if you want to lose weight.

2. Immune System Support

Since the liver reduces toxins, among other things, it makes sense that a healthy liver is crucial to a strong immune system. [1][2] Cleansing your liver could even give your immune system a boost.

3. Discourages Liver Stones

Liver stones, a product of diet, form because of too much cholesterol in the liver. [3] The extra cholesterol makes bile harden into tiny stones that can block the liver and gall bladder; you could even have up to 200 to 300 of these affecting your liver’s ability to detox. When you cleanse, though, somewhere between 100 to 300 of the stones could actually be purged from your body.

4. Supports Whole Body Detox

Since the liver removes toxins, turning them into harmless byproducts, there are usually small amounts of toxins in your liver. This is generally not a problem. Issues start, however, when there’s a build-up of too many toxins. That’s when you need to detox in order to get your liver working exactly as it should.

5. Boosts Energy

Some of the harmless byproducts the liver makes are actually nutrients the body will use. Whether from liver stones or too much toxic build up, some of those nutrients simply won’t make it back into the bloodstream. When that happens, your energy levels will likely drop, so liver cleansing will make you feel better because not only will you have all of your nutrients — but also all of your energy.

6. Increases Vitality

Remember that by cleansing the liver, you’re restoring it to peak efficiency. Reducing all that toxic build-up will make your skin look brighter and healthier. And since promoting bile production helps with fat breakdown, you’ll also tone your body easier and could even look and feel at least five years younger!

If you’re ready to make a change for the better, a liver cleanse might be a great start. You can get my recommended liver cleanse instructions here. You’ll also find valuable information in the following articles:

About the Author

Dr. Edward F. Group III (DC, ND, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM) founded Global Healing Center in 1998 and is currently the Chief Executive Officer. Heading up the research and development team, Dr. Group assumes a hands-on approach in producing new and advanced degenerative disease products and information.

Dr. Group has studied natural healing methods for over 20 years and now teaches individuals and practitioners all around the world. He no longer sees patients but solely concentrates on spreading the word of health and wellness to the global community. Under his leadership, Global Healing Center, Inc. has earned recognition as one of the largest alternative, natural and organic health resources on the internet.